WinXP and RH Linux 7.1

[vlatkovr3]

I have Win98 and RH Linux 7.1 installed on the same PC. On boot i choose what OS to load. If i install WInXP over Win98 (upgrade) will that make some problem with linux (like XP overwriting the MBR) or there will be no problem.

[ryan00002]

i believe that winxp will overwrite the mbr just because MS os's usually do ;) what you should probably do is just make a linux bootdisk so that if it does happen you can boot into linux and reinstall lilo(which i'm assuming is what your using as your boot manager)

[vlatkovr3]

How do i make a linux boot disk?

[vee-eye]

To make a linux boot disk, you must first be root (use the su command to temporarily gain root priveleges). Put a standard diskette in the floppy drive. Remember that anything on this disk will be erased! At the shell, type:

uname -r

The version of your kernel will be displayed. It will be something similar to 2.4.x-yy. x and the two y's can vary depending on your distro and kernel, and it doesn't necessarily have to begin with 2.4. Just remember the exact numbers of your kernel version. Now type:

mkbootdisk --device /dev/fd0 2.4.x-yy

This will tell the mkbootdisk command to make a boot disk on the device /dev/fd0 (the floppy drive). It will copy the kernel version you specified to this boot disk (obviously you must have this kernel installed).

Wait until the light on your floppy drive turn off. Then remove the diskette, put a blank sticker on it, and label it something like "RH 7.1 Boot Disk."

You can test to see if you actually have a working boot disk by putting the disk into the floppy drive, rebooting, and seeing if RH linux automatically loads at the startup.

peez ;)

[bdg1983]

Actually any version of Windows does not overwrite the mbr as some may think. It will only reset the mbr to the original state if it finds it not to be as it should such as lilo/grub being installed there.

On a freshly partitioned/formatted hd, Windows will install and set it's partition to be active to be able to boot. If the mbr is found to be intact, Windows will not touch it.

I don't know the technical aspects of the mbr, but as far as I know, it just holds a bootstrap record that points to whatever partition has been set as active.
So don't blame Windows as the mbr should not be overwritten by any bootloader. Install whatever bootloader into the boot/root partition, set that partition as active and modify the bootloaders configuration file to boot all the operating systems you have installed.

[ 06 October 2001: Message edited by: mdwatts the 3rd ]

[Linux_N00bie]

im dual-booting mandrake 8.0 and xp proffessional... and havnt run into any problems, but i installed win98, upgraded to xp, THEN installed linux....

[bdg1983]

Just don't install Lilo/Grub in the mbr (ok Craig?).

Install to the Linux root partition, set as active and modify /etc/lilo.conf (rerun /sbin/lilo after) or /boot/grub/menu.lst and add all your operating systems.